Document display and retention device

ABSTRACT

A device for displaying and exchanging a plurality of documents of various shapes and sizes and for organizing the same. The device of the present invention comprises at least two layers of pliable sheet material. If multiple sheets are used, the sheets may be nested together. The sheets may then be inserted into a binder mechanism where the binder mechanism compressibly engages the layers to create a pressure region adjacent thereto. The frictional force between the sheet material and the inserted document retains a document inserted into the pressure region formed between two adjacent layers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to devices, systems and methods forretaining and displaying documents, photographs and the like.

[0003] 2. Background

[0004] People often need to view messages, refer to notes, lists, orschedules, display pictures of loved ones, or view multiple documentssimultaneously. Consequently, it is not surprising that a variety ofways exist in the prior art for displaying documents, written messages,and even small photos; for example, self-adhesive “Post-it” notes,easels, clips, and cork boards. However, each of these devices has itsdrawbacks. Self-adhesive “Post-it” notes do not adhere well to thefingerprint resistant finish of a computer workstation, cannot bere-posted several times, easily drop off the monitor, and may be easilylost or misplaced. Clips are limited in the number of documents that canbe simultaneously displayed. Easels take up precious desktop space andare also limited in the number of documents that can be simultaneouslydisplayed.

[0005] A paper channel containing tubular inserts, such as the one shownand described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,800, issued to Junius et al. andincorporated herein by reference, permits more flexibility than theabove examples with respect to the number of documents that can besimultaneously displayed; however, such a paper channel physicallycaptures a portion of the document itself. This contact with thedocument can tear or bend documents or leave impression marks on thedocuments. The impressions are undesirable on photos and other importantdocuments. Consequently, there is a need for an improved device orsystem for simultaneously displaying documents, photos and the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is directed toward devices, systems andmethods for displaying and organizing documents of various shapes andsizes. In one embodiment described herein, the device of the presentinvention incorporates a transparent sheet folded to form two layershaving a common edge. The common edge of the sheet or layers is theninserted into a binder mechanism, where the binder mechanism urges thelayers together to create a pressure region proximate thereto. Theadjacent layers of the transparent sheets retain a document insertedtherein by electrostatic and frictional force between the sheet materialand the document. In another embodiment, several layers of transparentsheets are used to separately hold several documents. In still otherembodiments, a wide variety of binders and mounting mechanisms areenvisioned.

[0007] The device may be used in a variety of locations andorientations, such as along an edge of a computer monitor or otheroffice furniture, in kitchens, automobiles or almost any other location.The layers may be tabbed and/or colored to provide for more efficientorganization and access to documents. Additionally, the bindermechanisms used to bind the sheet or sheets may be removable to allow auser to easily and quickly reconfigure or clean the sheets.

[0008] A significant advantage of the present invention is that thebinder mechanism does not hold the documents. Instead, electrostaticforces and a pressure region adjacent to the binder mechanism combine toretain the documents. Therefore, the containment of the documents doesnot rely on gravity, on an active mechanical clipping mechanism, or onan adhesive. The device permits easy insertion and removal of thedocuments without damaging the documents in any manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a computer monitor having displaydevices according to an embodiment of the present invention attachedthereto

[0010]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a display device according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 is an end view of the device of FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of the device of FIG. 2.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a plan view of sheets from the device of FIG. 2, in afirst configuration.

[0014]FIG. 6 is an end view of the sheets of FIG. 5.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the sheets of the present inventionnested together in an alternate configuration.

[0016]FIG. 8 is an end view of the sheets of FIG. 7.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a plan view of one sheet from the device of FIG. 2,unfolded.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a plan view of another sheet from the device of FIG. 2,unfolded.

[0019]FIG. 11 is an end view of a display device according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 12 is an end view of the device of FIG. 11 in an alternateconfiguration.

[0021]FIG. 13 is a computer keyboard with an embodiment of the presentinvention attached thereto.

[0022]FIG. 14 is a wall mounted telephone with an embodiment of thepresent invention attached thereto.

[0023]FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a display device according to yetanother embodiment of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 16 is an exploded side view of the device of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention is generally directed toward devices,systems and methods for retaining and displaying documents. Thedocuments may be retained between two sheets of the device byelectrostatic forces and/or by pressure created by binding the devicewith a binder mechanism. A pressure region exists adjacent to the bindermechanism such that no manipulation of the binder mechanism is necessaryto insert or remove a document. The term “documents” as used hereinincludes anything flat and thin, such as cards, appointment cards,credit cards, pictures, 3×5 cards, receipts, tickets, postage stamps,instructions, “Post-it” notes, recipes, coupons, sports schedules,lottery tickets, drawings, correspondence, letters, post-cards, flyers,school menus, announcements, lists, and warning documents.

[0026] The present invention provides document display options for work,a home office, home, or virtually anywhere else; it can be usedvertically, horizontally, angled or even upside down. The device may beattached to the surface of a variety of products such as a computermonitor, computer keyboard, printer, lamppost, cabinet, appliance,telephone, shelf and/or a desk. The present invention also permits thedocuments to be easily inserted, removed, and/or exchanged with newdocuments. Further, the device can be easily and quickly reconfigured toplace more important documents in constant view without hindering orobscuring the view of other documents. Many specific details of thepresent invention are set forth in the embodiments described andillustrated herein to provide an understanding of the invention. Oneskilled in the art, however, will understand that the present inventionmay have additional and alternative embodiments, or may be practicedwithout several of the details described in the following description.

[0027]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention mounted to thevertical sidewalls of a computer monitor. The illustrated device 100 isprimarily composed of at least two sheets 102, 104 of sufficiently rigidand preferably, transparent material attached at a common edge by abinder mechanism 106. The illustrated binder mechanism 106 pinchestogether the sheets 102, 104, and also acts as an interfacing componentto attach the display device 100 to the sidewalls of a monitor 101. Thebinder mechanism 106 may be attached through a variety of means, such asadhesive, foam tape, magnetic strips, or Velcro.

[0028] The binding of the sheets 102, 104 creates a region proximate tothe binder mechanism 106 wherein documents 107 can be retained solelybetween the sheet layers themselves by electrostatic and frictionalforces. The frictional forces are created in a region proximate to thebinder mechanism 106 due at least in part to the pressure exerted by thebinder mechanism 106 in conjunction with the rigidity of the sheetmaterial. The binder mechanism 106 may be integrally formed from avariety of materials such as plastic, wood, plastic reinforced compositematerial, ceramic, or glass with extending flanges biasly separable toreleasably receive the sheets.

[0029] The sheets 102, 104 may be made from a variety of materials suchas plastic, vinyl, Lexan, Lucite, Acrylic, or any other similar materialand may come in a variety of sizes, for example 8½×11 inches can be atypical size and 5½×8 inches can be for a mini version of the device.Additionally, the sheets 102, 104 may be color coded to efficientlyorganize the documents placed therein. The rigidity of the sheetmaterial must be sufficient to create a requisite amount of biasingforce between the sheets 102, 104 proximate to the binder mechanism 106to hold a document therebetween. Simultaneously, the sheets must beflexible enough at their free ends to permit a user to easily insertand/or remove a document 107 without having to manipulate the sheets102, 104 or the binder mechanism 106 in anyway.

[0030] Sufficient rigidity of the sheets 102, 104 may be achieved byusing the above described sheet material or a substantially similarmaterial having an average thickness in the range of 0.0075 inches to0.020 inches. A sheet thickness of 0.010 inches may be adequate forsufficiently retaining most documents 107. However, it is contemplatedthat the thickness may be increased when large documents 107 orengineering drawings, for example, are to be displayed. Likewise, thedevice may be sized down such that an average sheet thickness ofapproximately 0.0050 inches could be adequate when there is only a needto support the display of very small documents 107 or notes. One skilledin the art, however, will recognize that the amount of retainingpressure needed is dependent on the type of sheet material used, thesize (i.e., width and length) of the sheet material used, the thicknessof the sheet material, and the force exerted by the binder mechanism106. Likewise, the force caused by electrostatic energy is a function ofthe size of the sheets. The present invention anticipates that theseparameters may be varied to achieve a custom display device for aspecialized purpose other than those discussed herein.

[0031] Once the binder mechanism 106 has been attached to a structure,the sheets 102, 104 of the display device 100 may be slidably insertedtherein. A user may then quickly and easily slide a document 107 betweentwo adjacent sheets 102, 104 such that the region proximate to thebinder mechanism 106 receives and captures at least one edge or cornerof the document 107.

[0032] As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the display device 100 iscapable of retaining multiple documents 107 or retaining just a singledocument. Mounting more than one display device 100 to a computermonitor 101, for example, can allow the user to readily displayimportant messages, family photos, or other information whilesimultaneously displaying a working document.

[0033]FIGS. 2 through 8 illustrate another display device 200 accordingto another particular embodiment of the present invention. In theillustrated embodiment, the display device 200 has two folded sheets202, 204 formed to create four sheet layers 203, 205, 207, and 209. Eachsheet layer 203, 205, 207, 209 has a free end 208. The unequal distancesbetween the respective free ends 208 of adjacent layers forms atab-offset 214 between each pair.

[0034] The sheet layers 203, 205, 207, and 209, when nested together,have a common edge 210. The illustrated common edge 210 is releasablyinsertable into the binder mechanism 206. As stated above, the bindermechanism 206 can exert a compression force on the sheet layers, therebycreating a retention region 212 for releasably retaining the documents.The inclusion of more sheets and subsequent nesting thereof is fullycontemplated by the applicant.

[0035] The binder mechanism 206 may be removable from the sheets 202,204 to permit the user to reconfigure the tab offsets 214, asillustrated by comparing FIGS. 6 and 8. The binder mechanism 206 may beintegrally formed with a forward flange 216, an aft flange 218, and abacking 220 wherein the forward and aft flanges form the retentionportion of the binding mechanism and are biasly separable to releasablyreceive the sheets 202, 204. The backing 220 may act as the mountingportion of the binder mechanism 206. The binder mechanism 206 may bemade from a variety of materials such as plastic, wood, plasticreinforced composite material, ceramic, or glass, for example.

[0036] An advantage of the present embodiment is that the sheet layersmay be differentially colored. The coloring, combined with the taboffset, permits a viewer to organize and easily locate documents placedbetween the adjacent sheet layers. Additionally, the free ends 208 mayhave rounded comers to provide an aesthetic appearance as well as easethe insertion of a document. The inventors appreciate that many of thesedetails can be varied without deviating from the spirit of theinvention; for example, the free ends 208 of the respective sheet layers203, 205, 207, and 209 can be aligned with each other to eliminate thetab-offset 214. Further, more than two sheets may be nested together andthe sheets may be different lengths and/or widths in the same set.

[0037] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate two possible configurations of thisparticular embodiment of the present invention, wherein the nesting ofthe sheets 202 and 204 permits the tab offsets 214 to be reconfiguredaccording to the user's desires. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, auser could place a larger document between layers 207 and 209 andsmaller documents between layers 209 and 203, and between layers 203 and205. Such a configuration permits the user to maintain their smalldocuments between layers 209 and 203, and between layers 203 and 205,while retaining a large “working” document between layers 207 and 209.The configuration illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 allows easy insertion andremoval of the large “working” document, which is amply supported bylayer 209, without disturbing the smaller documents located between theother layers.

[0038]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate two examples of pre-formed sheets 202and 204. The pre-formed sheets 202 and 204 schematically represented maybe for a mini-version of the device. As discussed above, the sheets 202and 204 may be folded along a predetermined crease line 216 to createtwo sheet layers. Alternatively, the sheets layers may be fabricated bysplicing the sheets along the crease line 216 into separate layers.Perforating or scoring the sheets to ensure the accuracy of the foldingsplicing operation may create the crease line 216. One skilled in theart, however, will recognize that the sheets may vary in size and becreased either widthwise or lengthwise. It will further be appreciatedthat these options allow a large variety of configurations.

[0039]FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another embodiment of a display device300 releasably inserted into the binder mechanism 306. In thisembodiment, the sheet layers 302, 304, 306, and 308 can be formed fromseparate sheets bonded together along the respective spliced edges 310.Thermally sealing ultrasonic welding, or mechanically affixing thespliced edges 310 together, for example, may accomplish the bondingoperation. Bonding the spliced ends 310 together, in bulk, can provide amore efficient and economic mode of manufacturer.

[0040]FIGS. 11 and 12 further illustrate two various ways of mountingthe device 300 with the binder mechanism 306. FIG. 11 demonstrates thatthe backing 320 of the binder mechanism 306 may be secured horizontallyto surface 301. FIG. 12 demonstrates that one of the flanges 316 may beused to mount the device vertically to surface 301. Additionally, themounting flange, for example the aft flange 316, may be oriented toproject normally from the backing 320 to ensure that the sheets 302,304, 306, and 308 are substantially parallel to the adjacent verticalsurface 301 when mounted. As previously noted, the binder mechanism 306may be secured to the surface 301 by a variety of means such asadhesive, foam tape, magnetic strip, or Velcro.

[0041]FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate alternate applications for the displaydevice 100. For example, FIG. 13 demonstrates the device 100horizontally attached to a top portion of a computer keyboard 400. Thekeyboard 400 may have a built-in channel (not shown) or a separatebinder mechanism 106 may be used to attach the device to the keyboard.FIG. 14 demonstrates the device 100 as attached to a wall mountedtelephone base 401 for home or home office use with the binder mechanism106.

[0042]FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate another embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the display device 500 incorporates a folded sheet 502which can be slidably inserted into an object having a channel 504. Assuch, the channel 504 provides the binding and compression means in asubstantially similar manner to the binder mechanism 106 discussedabove. The width of the channel 504 may be adjusted using spacers; thusallowing the insertion of only one sheet or multiple sheets.Alternatively, the channel 504 may be formed to receive the bindermechanism 106 of FIGS. 11 and 12. As one skilled in the art willunderstand, the object 500 may be any number of home or office itemssuch as a pen holder, a name plaque, or virtually anything with achannel 504 formed therein. Additionally, the object 500 may be mountedor placed in a horizontal, vertical, or other non-orthogonalorientation.

[0043] The present invention provides an inexpensive means of displayinga plurality of documents of various shapes and sizes and for organizingthe same. A significant advantage of any of the foregoing embodiments isthat the binder mechanism does not engage the documents. The devicepermits easy insertion and removal of the documents without damaging thedocuments in any manner. The device permits the insertion and removal ofindividual documents without disturbing the other documents. The devicecan be configured to place larger documents in full view of the userwithout disturbing smaller documents retained by the device. The sheetlayers extending from the binder mechanism provide protection for thedocuments retained therein and provide an efficient method of sortingand organizing documents.

[0044] An additional advantage of the present invention is the abilityto attach the device to any number of objects. Even with the bindermechanism attached to an object, the sheets may be slidably releasableto permit quick and easy reconfiguration.

[0045] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

1. A device for releasably retaining a plurality of documents, thedevice comprising: a folded sheet having a first layer and a secondlayer, both extending from a common edge; the common edge beingreleasably retained in a binder mechanism configured to prevent thecommon edge from unfolding; the first and second layers having freeedges opposite the common edge, the free edges configured to facilitatedocument insertion between the layers without hands-on manipulation ofthe binder mechanism or the layers by a user.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein the folded sheet is configured with a tab offset between thefree edges of the respective layers.
 3. The device of claim 1 whereinthe sheet is transparent.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheet ismade from plastic, vinyl, Lexan, Lucite, Acrylic, or other similarmaterial.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second layersare different colors.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein first and secondlayers are formed by creating a crease and folding the sheet at thecrease.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the crease is formed byperforating or scoring the sheet.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein thecrease is substantially parallel to the free edge of the first layer,the second layer, or both.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheet isspliced into separate first and second layers, a spliced edge of eachlayer being sealed together.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheetis spliced into separate first and second layers, a spliced edge of eachlayer being mechanically attached together.
 11. The device of claim 1wherein the sheet has an average thickness in the range of about0.0050-0.020 inches.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein the bindermechanism comprises a forward flange, an aft flange, and a backing, theforward and aft flanges extending from the backing for releasablyreceiving the common edge.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the bindermechanism is made from a plastic material.
 14. The device of claim 12wherein the forward and aft flanges are biasly separable to releasablereceive at least one sheet.
 15. The device of claim 1 wherein the bindermechanism comprises an object with a channel formed therein forreleasably receiving at least one sheet.
 16. The device of claim 15wherein the binder mechanism comprises a desk display item for holdingwriting utensils with the channel formed therein.
 17. A device forreleasably retaining a plurality of documents, the device comprising: afirst sheet of resiliently pliable material having a fixed edge and anopposing free edge; a second sheet of a resiliently pliable materialhaving a corresponding fixed edge and an opposing free edge, the fixededge of the second sheet being at least substantially fixed to the fixededge of the first sheet such that the fixed edges resist relativemotion; and wherein at least one of the first and second sheets is longenough from its fixed edge to its free edge to facilitate manualseparation from the other of the first and second sheets whereby atlease one document can be inserted and retained between the first andsecond sheets.
 18. The device of claim 17 wherein the first and secondsheet are fixed together such that a tab offset is created between therespective free edges of the sheets.
 19. The device of claim 17 whereinthe fixed edge of the first sheet is thermally sealed to the fixed edgeof the second sheet.
 20. The device of claim 17 wherein the fixed edgeof the first sheet is mechanically attached to the fixed edge of thesecond sheet.
 21. The device of claim 17 wherein the sheets aredifferent sizes.
 22. A device for releasably retaining a plurality ofdocuments, the device comprising: a plurality of sheets, each sheetbeing folded to have a first layer and a second layer, the first andsecond layers attached to each other at a common edge; the common edgebeing retained in a binder mechanism configured to provide a sufficientbiasing force in the layers in a region located proximate to the bindermechanism for retaining at least one documents inserted between adjacentlayers, the first and second layers having free edges opposite thecommon edge, the free edges configured to facilitate document insertionbetween the layers without hands-on manipulation of the binder mechanismor the layers by a user, and at least one sheet being insertably nestedwithin another sheet.
 23. The device of claim 22 wherein the pluralityof sheets are configured to be nested with respect to one another in anyorder.
 24. The device of claim 22 wherein at least one sheet isconfigured with a tab offset between the free edged of the first andsecond layers.
 25. The device of claim 22 wherein the sheets aredifferent sizes.
 26. A device for releasably retaining a plurality ofdocuments, the device comprising: a binder having a mounting portion anda retention portion, the mounting portion being configured to be mountedto another object; a plurality of sheets of pliable material sharing atleast one common edge, the common edge of each of the plurality ofsheets being retained in the retention portion of the binder in fixedparallel planar alignment with the other common edges, and wherein atleast one of the plurality of sheets is sufficiently large to facilitateseparation of the sheets at an edge spaced apart from the common edgeand insertion of the document between the adjacent sheets.
 27. Thedevice of claim 26 wherein the common edge is formed by thermallysealing at least one edge of each of the plurality of sheets together.28. The device of claim 26 wherein the common edge is formed bymechanically attaching at least one edge of each of the plurality ofsheets together.
 29. The device of claim 26 wherein the sheets aredifferent sizes.
 30. A method for assembling a document display device,the method comprising: providing at least two sheets of pliabletransparent material; creating a first layer and a second layer from thesheets, the first and second layers having a common edge; and insertingthe common edge into a binder mechanism configured to provide asufficient compressive force against the sheets for retaining at leastone document therebetween.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein placingthe common edge of the sheet into the binder mechanism is accomplishedby slidably inserting the sheet into a channel formed in the bindermechanism.
 32. A method for displaying a document in the vicinity of anobject, the method comprising: inserting at least two sheets having acommon edge into a binder mechanism, the binder mechanism configured tosupply a compressive force to the sheets to retain documentstherebetween; coupling the binder mechanism to the object; and placing adocument between the sheets where an edge of the document is positionedproximate to, but not within, the binder mechanism.
 33. The method ofclaim 32 wherein the binder mechanism is attached to the object withadhesive, for example, foam tape attaching the binder mechanism to acomputer monitor.
 34. The method of claim 32 wherein the bindermechanism is attached to the object with Velcro.
 35. The method of claim32 wherein the binder mechanism is mechanically fastened to the object,for example with screws or nails.
 36. The method of claim 32 wherein thebinder mechanism is a self-stabilizing structure having a channel formedtherein, for example a desk, windowsill, counter top, workbench, ortable, the channel formed to releasably receive at least one sheet.